30 June, 2014

How to Develop Your Film Ideas

At a Club meeting in June, Alex Montague, the Club Programme Secretary, made a presentation to the members on the subject of Developing Ideas in Film-making: How to create a story? You can see the presentation below. Use the practical ideas in the presentation to help your own film projects.

29 June, 2014

Summer Break

The Club is now taking its summer break for July and August. However, the Committee will be continuing working in the background in preparation for the NEW 2014/15 year.

18 June, 2014

Success at Bolton Movie Challenge 2014

One of the positive elements about being part of a network of clubs nationally via the Institute of Amateur Cinematographers (IAC) is that, on a regular basis, we have the opportunity of competing with one another. Cumulatively, this contributes to raising standards, as does competition in any field.

On 22 May, Southport MovieMakers competed against 7 other clubs from around the North West in a competition entitled the Bolton Movie Challenge, hosted by Bolton MovieMakers. We won.

Our winning film was our recent production, Ransom, directed by our recently-deceased highly-talented member Nigel Barton. Our Chairman, Peter Ravenscroft, said when he spoke receiving the award, that it was "entirely fitting" that Nigel's talent should be recognised with this success. Once again, the success is a tribute to Nigel's talent. Moreover, it is a tribute to the team effort that contributed to the success of Ransom.



If you would like to become a member of Southport MovieMakers and actively contribute to our future success, please contact us:


14 June, 2014

You Can Teach an Old Dog New Tricks

A great strength of Southport MovieMakers in that it mixes together the energy of youth with a foundation of many years of experience of film-making. For example, our newly-appointed Programme Secretary, Alex Montague is a very recent Film graduate from Edge Hill University and another newly-appointed member of the Management Committee, our Publicity & Recruitment Officer, Sarah Pollitt, has just finished the second year of her undergraduate degree at Liverpool University. At the other extreme, our older members are well into their retirement years. Older and younger film-makers have much to offer each other.

In recognition of many years of contributing to the life of the Club in so many ways, Ashby Ball, Geoff Williams and Jim Morris earlier this year were awarded Honorary Life Memberships of the Club.

In addition, last month, Paul Bagshaw, another of our older, highly-experienced members became the first recipient of the NEW Nigel Barton Trophy, in recognition of his skill as a film-maker. This award was created in the wake of the recent death of our valued member Nigel Barton.

Paul Bagshaw

In this age when older people are sometimes overlooked, it is important to recognise and celebrate the skills and knowledge that older people bring from a lifetime of experience. In this context, it is interesting to note that Channel 4 is currently acknowledging the value of older people in their series Mary's Silver Service.


Ashby Ball and Geoff Williams - Founder Members of Southport MovieMakers

Whether you're in your 20s or your 80s, 
you can always learn new things.


13 June, 2014

Success for Burnley at Inter-club Competition 2014

Last Thursday, 5 June, at our annual Inter-club Competition, Burnley Film Makers walked away with the trophy for their winning documentary film 'Antiques Roadshow', looking at when the BBC programme visited Towneley Hall near Burnley in Lancashire. It is to the immense credit of the Burnley club that they managed to acquire significant behind-the-scenes access to the BBC staff, including the Production Manager, the presenter Fiona Bruce and the programme's producer, Michele Burgess.

Congratulations to Burnley!!

06 June, 2014

Club Launches NEW Library for Members

Southport MovieMakers is pleased to announce the launch of a  NEW Club Library for members. The Club is able to do this due to receiving a substantial donation of books arising from the death of its recently-deceased highly valued member Nigel Barton.

The books cover a range of aspects of film-making including screenwriting, producing and directing. The members will benefit greatly from being able to consult these sources in the development of future Club productions. The Library will be another facet of the significant legacy left by Nigel within Southport MovieMakers and the Club thanks Nigel's family very much for this donation.

"The Machine Stops" - Premiere

On 12 June, our member Michael Alley will be presenting the premiere of his new film The Machine Stops, based on E.M. Forster's book of the same title.

The story describes a world in which most of the human population has lost the ability to live on the surface of the Earth. Each individual now lives in isolation below ground in a standard 'cell', with all bodily and spiritual needs met by the omnipotent, global Machine. Travel is permitted but unpopular and rarely necessary. Communication is made via a kind of instant messaging/video conferencing machine called the speaking apparatus, with which people conduct their only activity, the sharing of ideas and what passes for knowledge.

The story begins…..
Imagine, if you can, a small room, hexagonal in shape, like the cell of a bee. It is lighted neither by window nor by lamp, yet it is filled with a soft radiance. There are no apertures for ventilation, yet the air is fresh. Read more.

Forster was concerned about human dependence on technology. Although the book was published in 1909, it is just as relevant today as it was back in 1909. Perhaps even moreso. Consider the Internet.

Members are encouraged to attend this evening to support the screening of Michael’s new film.